Improvement in brick-machines



Sheets--Sheet 1.

.J. C. ANDERSON*-l v i Brick-Machine. NQ. 213,085. Patented Mar. 11, 1879.

- MMM N-Pm PHOTUUTHOGRAPHEE WISHINGTON. DV C.

4 Sheets-S'heet 2. J. 0. ANDERSUN.

- Brick-Machine. No. 213,085. Patented Mar. 11,v 1879.

*l Mm. PNOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASNINGYON. D CY 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. C. ANDERSON.

Brick-Machine.

No. 213,085. Patented Mar. 11,1879.

| l l l lil-Mp-w Nil i l I f www PETERS. PNoTo-LJTHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTQN. i:A C.

i 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. J. C. ANDERSON.

, BIiG'k-MaohiHS-U Patented Mar. I1, 1879.

UNITED 'Stn/ iras PATENT Fr'rcn JAMES C. ANDERSON, 'OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRICK-MACHINES.

Specification forming part ofLetters Patent N0. 213,085, dated March 11, 1879; application filed November 25, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JAMEs C. ANDERSON, of the city of Pittsburg, Allegheny county, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Brick-Machines, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to a machine for molding and forming bricks and paving-blocks from homogeneous dry clay-powder.

The object of my invention is to provide a mechanism to complete the entire process in one operation of molding the clay-powder into the proper form and solidity and expelling the air from ,the clay and molds.

My invention consists in a system of devices of peculiar construction, arrangement, and operation, hereinafter more fully described and claimed. combining a complete machine of automatic movements, positive and accurate in their operation, and of great power in cornpressing the clay, whereby the claypowder to be molded is fed to and taken up by the molds or dies in even and exact quantities, and subjected therein to intense pressure, expelling and freeing in the molding operation the air from the clay within the molds, giving to the articles molded an exceedingly solid and firm texture and fineness of finish, and by the same continuous operation bearing them from the machine and placing them on a suitable carrier to be transported into the kiln.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe front and discharging side of the machine. Fig. 2 is a perspective ofthe reverse or charging side of the machine, showing the disk-movement in place. Fig. 3 is a detached sectional view of that part ofthe disk-movement operating beneath the dish. Fig. 4: isa side sectional view of the operating cam-disk for discharging the bricks from the molds, and of the operating cam-disk for bearing the bricks off from the molds. Fig. 5 shows the rear of the plunger with safety device attached and the mechanism for operating the clutch. Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the clayspout, showing the cylinder-openings turned np to receive a charge of clay. Fig. 7 is the same view with the cylinder-openings turned down to discharge the clay into the molds; and Fig. 8 is a cross-section through the dies and a part of the plunger, showing the mechanism for freeing the air from the molds.

A suitable frame -work is constructed of cast-iron, with reference to the particular parts to be attached to and operated in connection therewith and the great strain required for compacting the clay-powder in the dry state. This frame-work consists mainly of two upright castings, A A, placed side by side a suitable distance apart, and secured firmly in that position by screw-bolts to the cross-castings B1, B2, and B3. The shafts C1, G2, and O3 have their bearings in the side castings A, which castings are formed to admit the one-half diameter of the shaft and to provide recesses to receive and give rmness to the caps. The driving-pulley D upon the shaft Cl admits of a diameter of forty-two inches, and should have at least fourteen inches of face -and two inches of rim to give belt-surface and maiutain the proper momentum in driving the machine with the requisite force for the firm compacting of the clay-powder, which force is multiplied and transmitted to the mainactuating-shaft Cs by means of vthe pinions and gear-wheels c upon the shafts O1, C2, and C3. Atoothed clutch, d, is secured to the shaft G1 by a groove andfeather in position to slide into and engage with corresponding teeth on the hub of the drivingpulley, which pulley is allowed to revolve freely upon the shaft when the clutch is out of gear, and is held in position laterally by a collar on the shaft, recessed between the clutch and the hub, and a collar on the end of the shaft.

A lever, d1, is formed of suitable length to extend from a convenient point at the front ofthe machine to the rear thereof to engage with and operate the clutch mechanism for throwing the clutch in or out of gear, as occasion may require. This lever has its pivotal fulcrum upon a stud, cl2, to the inner side ofH the frame-casting, and is provided with an anti-friction roller at the weight end of the same. A lever, d3, having its pivotal fulcrum upon a stud, d4, to the frame, is formed with a cam-slot, d5, in which groove the end of the lever dlisi-nserted. The groove d5 extends from a suitable point below the stud downwardly to correspond with the throw of the lever dl, and inclined outwardly to' correspond with the throw of the clutch-bar d6. The top end of the lever d3 is forked to clasp the two sides of a collar, di, and is pivoted thereto by bolts ds through the forked jaws into suitable recesses in the collar. These recesses are elongated vertically to compensate for the diverging lines of movement of the lever d3 and clutch-bar. The clutchbar is held in place by boxes dg, secured to the frame A. An arm, d10, is secured rigidly to the end of the clutclrbar, and extends upwardly at right angles with the bar in-such position and of such shape as to tit into the groove d on the periphery of the clutch and to encircle the one-half diameter thereof.

In the operation the clutch is placed in gear by forcing downward the end of the lever di, which will cause the other end of the same within the inclined groove of the lever d3 to ascend in a true vertical line, forcing the diverging groove of the lever d3 in the saine vertical plane, which actuates the lower end of this lever outwardly, and the other end thereof in an opposite direction, and the clutch into gear with the clutch of the hub; and, in like manner, when it becomes necessary to stop the machine quickly, the end of the lever d1 is simply drawn upward, which cuts off suddenly the driving-power and the momentum, and the machine comes to a sudden stop. Secured rigidly b v screw-bolts to the sides A of the frame-work, and to the cross-casting B2, is a stationary disk, E2, which disk is turned up to present an even and true surface on the top, and of suitable diameter to come wit-hin the recess formed by the flange of the disk El. An opening is made through the center of this stationar disk to admit and support a vertical shaft, F, which shaft is also supported and held in place by a two-part clamping-box, f1, at the bottom of the shaft, which box is securely bolted to the side castings A.

The shaft is made to extend a suitable dis tance above the top of the stationary disk to form a central axis, upon which the disk El re-v volves. rlhe main casting of the disk El is formed with a central hub and a peripheral flange, c1, and a system of lugs, c? and e, and is also provided with openings to receive the lower edge of the die-boxes G1, and to allow the lower die-matrices, G2, to rest upon the lower disk, E2.

A bearing is formed for the vertical shaftF in the ,central hub of the disk El, and made adjustable to the wear by a Babbitt-metal space, the Babbitt strips being bored out to a true center to the size of the shaft, and the shaft is passed through the bearing from the top, and is secured firmly in position by a snug tit through the hub of the lower disk,E2, and the tightening of the bolts of the clampingbox f1 to prevent the shaft from rotating with the disk E'. The shaft F is provided with a collar on top thereof, which collar has a bearing on the top of the central hub of the disk El, to prevent the disk from being forced y unduly upward in the operation ofrpressing the bricksfrom the'molds.

`The disk El is kept at an easy bearing on the disk E2 by means of the recessed cap c6, which issecurely bolted to the top of the central hub with a bearing upon the top of the shaft-collar, and the shaft raisedby means of the screw f2 beneath the bottom of the shaft to give the disk a pivotal bearing upon the top of the shaft. An oilcup upon the cap c6 communicating with ducts in the top of. the shaft serves to keep the journal lubricated and free from the clay-powder.

The die-boxes Gl are made in this example suitable to mold two bricks of the ordinary' size, and of a depth of seven inches to admit the thickness of the lower die-matrices of two inches and five inches of the clay-powder, and are castin one piece of suitable thicknessl of .walls to resist the outward pressure in the molding operation, and are secured firmly to thedisk-castin g by bolts through suitable lugs, and adjusted to their proper position with reference to the top die-matrices, G3, by bolts through the lugs e2 and e3.

The disk El is made to present an even surface on the top at the same level of the top of the die-boxes by an Octagon plate, e7, which rests within recesses formedin the top edges of the die-boxes and central hub and by plates e8 secured at the top edges and between the die-boxes by dovetailed rabbets.

The peripheral flange cI is provided with notches e9, of half-circular form, to furnish suitable holes for the disk-operating mechanism, hereinafter described.

The prepared clay-powder is supplied to the machine by a vertical spout, H, which spout is made of square shape, corresponding in size to the molds, and terminates aboutthree inches above the top of the disk El. Telescoped over the end of this spout, and resting upon the disk, is a hopper, h, the use of which hopper is to form a secure joint at the junction of the spout and disk-top to prevent the escape of the clay-powder with as little friction as possible, and is therefore made to hug the disk by its own gravity, and readily yields as the disk may be raised or lowered, and also adjusts itself automatically to the wear by contact of the disk in motion.

Two cylindrical vessels, hl, are made of sheet metal, the peripheral sides of which form the three-fourths part of a circle, leaving the onefourth part thereof open. lThese cylinders are securedv within and near the lower end of the spout by suitable trunnions in position over the molds when the disk E1 is at rest. Inclined part-s h2 are formed within the spout, and fitted up snug to the sides of the cylinders, fo`rm ing ports la, through which the clay-powder enters the cylinders and is discharged into the molds, and prevented in the operation from unduly passing through to the molds.

Fixed to the trunnion-shafts of the cylinders are crank-arms h3 and h4. The wrist of the crank-arm h3 is connected with a wristoll the oscillatinglarm -J by a pitmanfrod, h5,- and the crank-arms h3 and hare connectedtogether by a connectingrod,h7. A gate, h9,is litted in the spout above the cylinders, to cut off the supply of clay when desired. These cylinders intervene to'prevent the clay-powder fromcompacting unduly inthe molds by the gravity of the clay iu the spout, andr are made to correspond in size to each of the molds, and in the operation the cylinders are oscillated a halfturu, bringing the openingsin the sides of the same upward to receive a charge of clay-powder through' the ports, as shown at Fig. 6 of the drawings ,and on the return motion the cylinders are turned down, as shown at Fig. 7 to discharge the iclay into the molds.

Beneath the disks El and E2 is a horizontal arm, I, having a working bearing ou the verv tical shaft F, and extending parallel with the disks to the outerperiphery of the same. A knuckle-joint is formed on the end ofthe arm, with the jaw-like castingst' and pivotal pin il. A stud, i2, is secured to the castings and made part of the jaw, which stud is made to extend a suitable distance above the'top ofthe castings to register with the circular openings e9 of the disk El. A wrist-pin, 3, is secured to the outer or power end of the jaw, for connecting the pitman t4. Shoulders 'i5 are formed by the jaw-castings on the tw-ofsides ofthe pivotal stud, and like shoulders t are formed on the arm-castings, in such position with relation to each other as to allow a fixed vibrating motion from s houlder to shoulder, which vibration at the stud 2- corresponds to the depth or the openings e9 of the peripheral iiange of the disk El to allow the stud 112 to enter the opening and clear the flange, as required in the operation. l Sliding bolts 11T and i are held in place on the top of the arm-casting Iby suitable keepers, and provided with rspiral springs 9, in such position as to hold the bolts outwardly, giving the ends'thereof a constant bearing against the shoulders of the jaws. Each of said bolts has projections @'10 extending upward in close proximity to the under side of th'e disk E2. rI hese projections areincliued to latch with like inclined projections in a suitable position beneath the disk to form automatical keepers to prevent the arm I from being drawn forward in the operation until the stud i2 shall have been drawn forward into the opening e9 of the disk-flanges, in which operation the shoulder of the jaw will force the bolt back, and the inclined projection, as a part thereof, will be thrown back to a positio to pass the keeper upon the disk E2.

Fig. 3 ofthe drawings shows thearmin position to allow the stud to enter the opening for the forward movement of the disk in the direction of the arrow-point, with the keeper, (represented by the dotted lines 211,) intervening on lthe same line, latched with the bolt f, which, on the forward motion, will be unlatched, as described, and thedisk'li]1 moved forward corresponding to thcspaces of the y'molds, which will bring the arm in positioni-` to latch the bolt't'8 with the keeper i12, t'o prevent the arm from being thrown back until the stud is released from the opening.

' It will be seen that the leverage incident to the peculiar shape' and attachment of the jaws tothe power will insure au easy action of the Yknuckle-joint, and thus prevent a heavy drag f against the latch.

A vertical oscillating arm, J, is suspended to a pivotal studfrom a bracket to the frame A, in close proximityto the face of a grooved cam-disk, K, which disk is securely keyed to the main actuatingshaft C3, and rotates therewith in the direction of the arrow-point, and a Z stud, f, provided with an anti-friction roller, .branches from the inner side of the arm into the groove of the disk a suitable distance below the pivoted stud j to oscillate the lower end of the arm in conformity with the peculiar shape of the groove, a proper throw for rotating the disk El from mold to mold, and

'maintaining it securely in that position a suit able time in the molding operation, the pivo" VJcial stud being made adjustable vertically both in the arm and in the bracket for changing the relative distances between these two studs for shortening and lengthenin g the throw at the lower end of theparm to insure the accurate adjustment of the forward movement of the disk Fil. The lower end of the -arm is slotted vertically to work on a sliding box,j2, 'i 'which boX furnishes a bearing for the stud j* to connect this end of the arm to the cross- 'hjeadjfg and the cross-head is joined to the connecting-pitlnan i4 by a wrist-stud, j.

Y j The cross-head' has its guide-bearings upon" horizontal slide-bracket, js, which bracket is will be thrown back to its farthest point, and the horizontal arm I will also be thrown back, bringing the jaw-stud in position to close'into the notch in the peripheral flange of the disk El, which position is shown in Figs.' 2 and 3 of the drawings, and iu this position the claycylinders are turned down, as shown in Fig. 7 vof the drawings. The line of the groove iu the cam-disk diverges slightly from this point sufiicient to actua-te the arm forward until the jaw-stud enters the notch in the disk, when the groove in the cam-disk will maintain a vtruc circle to the shaft from this point to the point kl, which maintains the arms J and I and Ajaw at rest until the point k* in the groove is reached, 'when by the diverging line of the groove to the point k2, the arms will be carried forward to their extreme point, brin ging 'the disk El forward one space of the molds and turning upward the openings in the claycylinders. The groove in the cam disk then maintains an even distance to the shaft to the point lf3, which maintains the arms, the jaw, and the disk at rest, when, by the convergence of the groove in thecam-disk back to the l commencement point, the arnrJ will actuate."v

the jaw from the notch in the disk-ange, and the arm I will be carried back with the arm J to the first position to repeat the operation.

The slides M are securely bolted within recesses formed in the side castings A, and are provided with V-grooves in their edges to member with corresponding V-grooves on the cross-head of the plunger. Y

The plunger L is formed by a cross-head casting, Z, provided with suitable rises on the edges to work into the V-grooves of the slides M, and a top guide-bar forging, l, made to work into a vertical guid'e-boxformed in the top cross-casting, B1, of the frame. These parts l and Z1 are connected securely together in a firm housing formed to the actuating-cam O by the forgings Z2, which are formed to member into suitable recesses on the top of the cross head casting and the bottom of the guide bar forging and iirmly bolted thereto. A iirm base is formed on the top of the crosshead within the opening of the bottom of the housing, in which is fitted, and held in place by suitable shoulders and bolts, a workingsurfaee, Z4, of phosphor bronze metal for sustaining the great pressure and drag of the cam in compacting the clay, and a like working bearing, l5, is formed and secured to the bottom of the guide bar within the housing, providing a bearing upon the top of the cam for actuating the plunger upwardly. The top and bottom working-surfaces hug to both sides of the cam, which cam is made of such form as to prevent and maintain the same vertical diameter between these `bearings in all positions, and therefore have a continuous bearing upon both the upper and lower surfaces, which in the operation will impart a vertical motion to the plunger incident to the peculiar points of contact through a vertical line of the cam upon the working surfaces of the bearing.

Openings are formed in the cross-head above tl\e dies,into which openings are placed asmall disk, N, having a notch, n4, in the one side, which notched disk is secured in position by trunnion-shafts n, having suitable bearings in the cross-head casting. To the outer end of the trunn'iolrshafts are secured rigidly the arms al, which arms are connected by toggle-joints to corresponding arms u2, and these latter arms are secured by pivotal studs to the side castings A of the frame. Flanges are formed at the bottom of the cross-head, through which lian ges A is secured the top die-casting, and the diematrices G3 are securely bolted thereto. The matrices are made of steel or other suitable metal for maintaining a smooth hard surface, upon the face of which are secured wedgeshaped projections, rounded, of cone-like forni, converging from about one inch at the base to a point at about the same distance from the face ofthe die-matrices. The central coneprojection in each of these top die-matrices is formed by a stud, a5, of equal diameter to the face of the cone, and extends upwardly, brin ga ing the top A end thereof to bear against the edges of the notched disk N, and is held in place laterally by a bearing, as, within the diecasting and cross-head. A collar, nl, is fixed to this stud rigidly to aiford a shoulder for the upward pressure of the spiral spring a8. The hole through the face of the matrix is made to fit closely tothe stud at that point, but widens upwardly at the same angle to that of the cone to form an air-duct around the stud, which air-duct communicates with air-ducts urthrough the die-casting to a point above the top of the die-boxes. To the back of the cross-head casting is a sleeve-bracket, r, in a suitable position to form a keeper for the vertical guidingstud r. The use of the guidingstud is for the adjustment of the disk E1 to a position to bring the die-boxes in the exact line with the topv die-matrices, and for that purpose is made tapering at the lower end, allowing the full diameter of the same to come below the face of the die-matrices, and is forced down into the opening in the lug e2 of the disk, which opening is made a snug t to the full part of the stud and is steel-bushed to prevent too much wear.

.In the operation of this plunger part of the machine, when the full side of the cam O is turned upward the plunger' will be raised to its extreme upward throw, and the top diematrices will be at aposition above the top of the disk, as shown by the dotted lines ol in Fig. 8 of the drawings, and the arms al and n2 will be in the relative positions as also shown by the dotted lines, and the notched disk N will be in position with its periphery resting upon the top ofthe cone-stud, and in this position the molds will be full of the clay-powder, in which state the clay being deprived of its water leaves the pores open to be filled with The cam being rotated forward in the dii rection of the arrow-point the plunger will be forced downward until the cam shall have made nearly a half -turn, when the plunger will have reached within one-fourth of an inch of its extreme downward throw, and the clay powder within the molds will have been compressed to within a like distance to the proper thickness of the brick, when, by the action of an indent upon the full side of the cam and a corresponding rise of the top side of the same when at this point, the plunger will stop'its downward motion and recede a distance of about three-sixteenths of an inch to allow the escape of the `air from the molds.

It will be understood that when the diematrices enter the molds a tamping of the tine clay-powder is forced into the joints between the die-matrices and the ,die-boxes, and the air within the interstices and pores of the clay-powder will offer but little resistance to the pressure in the first part of the operation, but will readily yield to the pressA ure, and before it reaches that degree of density by the pressure to force its way through the tamping out of the mold an exccedingly hard fin is formed of the tamping,

which eff'ectually prevents the escape ofthe airfrom the molds. Itis therefore obvious, unless means were provided for the elimina! tion of the air from the molds, that no true bond could take place, and that the expansion incident to the great elasticity of air when released from pressure would stratity and burst the bricks, and for that reason the plunger is made to recede, by which means the tamping iin will be withdrawn from the joints, and the compressed air will have vent to force its way from the molds. The wedged cones upon the matrices also serve to compact the clay with equal solidity in the center of the brick, and thus force the air to the surface, to be expelled as described. The plunger is again actuated downward to its extreme point bya swell upon the full side of the cam. and a corresponding indent on the top or lean side thereof.A Durin g this rst downward operation'of the pl unger the notched disk N will have been rotated from the point shown by the dotted-lines ol in the direction of the arrow-point to point o2 of the dotted lines, with a continuous bearing upon the top of the central cone-stud a5, and in the second operation the notch n4 of the disk N is brought in position over the top of the cone-stud, and the stud, being thus released from pressure from the top, is actuated upward the depth of the notch by the force of the spiral spring, thus withdrawing the cone from the mold a suitable distance, to bring the tapered point thereof in position within thetapered opening of the die-matrix, and thus provide for the free escape of the air from the molds through the ducts. The plunger is then raised to its first positionby the action of the full side of the cam against the the top bearing ofthe housing, by which operation the air is entirely freed from'the mold, and a true bond is effected.

In molding the-clay-powder into a solid form, and also for the purpose of freeing the top die-matrices from the bricks whenl so molded, and to prevent the brick from being lifted or burst by the suction-vacuum incident to -the rapid withdrawal of the dies in the upward movement of the plunger, the duct remains open for a suitable time to supply air beneath the die until closed by the return action of the notched cam upon the top ot' the cone-stud by the upward motion of the plunger. l

Levers P and P are placed longitudinally in the hollow" of the machine in a suitable position betwe the back of the plunger L and clutch-bar d6, having their pivotal fulcrum on a stud, p1, to the frame A, the lever P being secured at one end by a pivotal pin to a lug, p2, of the plunger, and the end of the lever P being pivoted in like manner to a vertical stud, p3, which stud. is tapered at the lower end, and is kept in its vertical position by a suitable keeper to the plunger. The lug of the plunger and top of the stud are slotted at the pivotal pin, to compensate for the diverging lines of motion of the plunger and thelevers.

Rounded tenons are formed to the other end ofthese levers,A to which a jaw, p4, provided with corresponding openings, is ltted and secured in place by thread-nutsv on the ends ot' these tenons. The bite part of this jaw comes in suitable position at the proper timeto en- Aand the stud p3 enters the hole p6 on each downward motion ot' the plunger when the disk is in its proper position; but should an accident occur to prevent the disk from being .in its proper place when the plunger descends, the stud p3 will come in contact with the disktop, which will karrest'the downward' motion of that end of the lever P', while the end of the other lever, P, secured to the plunger will be carried downward with the plunger, which action will be reversed at the other end of the levers, and the bite of the j aw will be actuated against the arm of the clutch-bar to force the clutch out ot' gear with the clutch of the driving-pulley, and no damage can occur to the machine other than stripping the thread oi' the nut of the guide-stud of the plunger.

The push-out mechanism is actuated by a' grooved cam-disk, R, which disk is securely keyed to theshaft G3 and rotates therewith jin the direction ot the arrow-point. A vertical arm, S, isslotted over theV shaft in position with a bearing against the face of the camdisk. The slot s is made of suitable width and length to provide 4a vertical'slidin g bearing upon the two sides of the shaft'corresponding to the vertical movement ofthe arm. y

A stud, sl, is secured firmly to the arm, and branches inwardly into the groove s2 of the disk, and is provided with an anti-friction roller to work in the groove. The arm S1 -is also provided with suitable yguide#bearings near the lower end thereof by brackets to the frame A, a rock-arm, S2, having its central pivotal study to abracket, s3, of the vframe A.

The ends of this rock-arm are slotted and provided with longitudinal sliding boxes s4 and S5. The box s4, at the 'one end ofthe rock-arm, works upon a stud secured firmly to the vertical arm Sl, and a box, 85, at the other end thereof,

works upon a stud secured irmly to `the pushout plungercasting S3. The plunger-casting is formed of suitable shape to provide interlocking vertical slide bearings with corresponding parts of the bracket 86, which bracket is secured to and made part ot" the frame A. The push-out casting comes in position beneath the molds on the discharging side of the machine. An opening is made in the lower disk, E2, beneath the lower die-matrices, when at rest, of a suitable size to allow a marginal rest to the die-matrices on the disk. Square columns s7 are formed as a part of the plungercasting of a suitable size to pass up through the opening in the disk E2, and of a suitable length to carry up the lower die-matrices in the upward movement of the operation to a suitable position to raise the bricks molded about one inch above the top of the disk El, and on the downward movement to a position to clear the bottom of .the disk El in its forward movement. In the operation of the push-out mechanism, when the stud of the vertical arm Sl is in that part of the groove of the cam-disk nearest to the central shaft, as shown in Fig. 4L of the drawings, the arm SI will be raised to its extreme upward point, and the plunger-casting will be on its extreme downward throw, and will be maintained at rest in that position by the equal distance of the groove to the shaft until the point in the groove reaches the stud of the arm, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, when bythe divergence of the groove to the point 88, the arm Sl will be actuated downward the full throw, and, by means of the rock-arm and intermediate mechanism, the push-out plunger will be actuated upward, forcing the bricks up out of the molds and to a suitable distance above the top of the disk El, to be clutched by clamping-jaws of the off-bearing mechanism and borne from the machine. The groove then describes a true circle to the point s, which will maintain the plunger at rest a corresponding time to allow a suitable time to the offbearing mechanism, where, by the convergence of the groove, the arm and plunger will be brought to their first position, and the lower die-matrices will descend from beneath the bricks molded by their own gravity to a bearing on the lower disk, E2, to be carried around by the disk El to repeat the operation.

A vertical iron bar, T, is secured rmly beneath the machine, and provided with asuitable jaw-like keeper, t, and the top thereof is made to overlap the top edges of the disk E' in close proximity thereto, to prevent undue strain upon the vertical shaft F and the disk El in forcing the bricks from the molds.

Secured rigidly to the under side of the stationary disk ,E2 is a bracket-casting, U, for supporting the off-bearing mechanism, upon which bracket are formed bearing-boxes u1 for a vertical shaft, u2, and a bearing-box, a3, for the horizontal shaft a4. Secured to the top of the vertical shaft is acrank-arm, a5. An armcasting, V, is formed of such shape as to afford a frame-work, towhich the clasping-jaws n are hinged, and is secured to the vertical shaft a2 rigidly by the sleeve 'v1 in such position as to bring the clasping-jaws o immediately over the die-boxes at the proper time to receive the bricks between the jaws from the push-out part of the machine a-nd bear them off from the machine in conformity to the carrier. Anintermittent swinging motion is imparted-to the vertical shaft by theoperating mechanism. Gum facings are affixed to the jaws forholding the bricks firmly without lnarring their edges in bearing them oil' from the machine.

The spiral springs v2 are placed between the top armatures of the jaws, and are made of suitable strength for claspin g and holding the bricks within the `jaws by the outward pressure of the sprin gs, reversed to an inward pressure upon the bricks by the pivotal center ot' the jaws to the frame e3 of the arm V. Rods c4 are placed through the jaw-armatures to form pivotal bearings for the ends of a toggle-4 bar, c5, which toggle-bar is connected to the lever 'v6 by a link, nl, to the central pivotal pin of the toggle-joint and the end of the lever c, whichlever has its pivotal fulcrum upon the arm-casting V at e8, and the power end of the lever c comes in position beneath a camthe arm S1, is placed in position below'thecenter of the cam-disk Y. To the top of the shaft y* is a crank-arm and wrist-pin, which wrist-pin is provided with an anti-friction roller to enter and work into the groove y onv the edge of the disk Y. l

An armature, 1/3, which armature is provided with a wrist-pin at its outer end', is connected to the crank-arm a5 by a connectingrod, ul.

A vertical arm, Z, is secured in position with a bearing against the face of the disk Y by a stud, z, through an elongated groove at the top of the arm, which stud is tapped into theend of the actuating-shaft G3, and is provided with a suitable collar to rest against the outer side of the arm, by which means the shaft is allowed a vertical motion, and is secured in place at the lower end by a guideopening provided for that purpose in the bearing g4 in front of the vertical shaft y2.

A stud, z2, is secured to the arm Z and` branches into the groove y1 in the face of the disk, which stud 1s provided with an antifriction roller for working lnto the groove.

An armature, z3, branches from the arm Z, and is provided with a wrist projection to work` into a suit-able opening in the arm a of the shaft a4.

In'the operation of this olf-bearing mechanism, when the crank-pin is in that part of the groove in the edge of the disk the farthest back their full throw, as shown in position in Fig. y1 of the drawings, l in which position the stud z2 of the arm Z will bc at the point of of the groove y1 in the face of the disk. When, by the rotation of the disk, the crankstud of the shaft y2 shall have reached -that part of the groove nearest to the face of the disk, the armature 'ya will have been actuated forward its full throw by the divergence of the groove,the edge of the disk and the jaws will be brought in position over the molds, and will remain there a suitable time at rest.

By the operation of the groove in a straight line when the clasping-jaws are thus brought in position over the molds, groove y1, in the face of the disk, will have reached the stud at the point y, and by the divergence of the groove at this point the arm Z and armature .'23 will be actuated downward, and the arm of the shaft a4 in a like manner, bringing the jaw of the cam upon the outer end of the shaft to bear downward upon the end o9 of the lever o5, which forces this end of the lever down, thus raising the other end of the lever and the toggle-bar at the joint, and drawing inwardly the armatures o* of the clasping-jaws, and opening the jaws a suitable distance to receive the bricks from the push-out part. This operation being timed with reference to that ofthe pushout part, when this groove reaches the stud at the point y? bythe convergence of the groove to the inner circle the arm Z will be raised, freeing the pressure of the jawcaln from the lever, and, by the force of the springs outwardly upon the armature of the clasping-jaws, the toggle-bar will be drawn down and the clasping-jaws will clutch the bricks, when, by the downward motion of the push-out part, the lower die-matrices will be withdrawn from beneath the brick, leaving them suspended between the clasping-jaws, and when the die-matrices have receded a suitable distance below the bricks to clear the cone projections of the matrices, by the convergence of the groove g/ upon the end of the disk the cla-sping-jaws are swung around to their first position, when, by the divergence of the groove y1 on the face of the disk, the arm Z is again forced down, and the claspingjaws open as before, to allow the bricks to slide from the jaws by their own gravity upon the carrier.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a brick-machine, the two-part upright frame-castings A A and cross-castings B1, B2, and B3, formed to combine and to provide shouldered bearings for the shafts G1, C2, and

Y U3, and guide-bearings for the vertical plunger L, and a rest for the horizontal disk E1 beneath the plunger, for resisting the plunger-pressure within the same castings, in combination with the shafts Cl, C2, and C3, plunger L, and disk El, substantially as described and shown. Y

2. In a brick-machine, the combination of 3. The clutch-bar d6, cam-slotted lever (23,1

and lever d1, for opera-tin g the clutch d, substantially as described and shown.

4. The disk El, provided with peripheral4 flange ci, lugs e2 and c3, recessed cap e6, plates cT and cg, and adjustable die-boxes G1, in coinbination with the die matrices G2 and G3, guiding-stud 1", and the plunger L, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a brick-machine, the adjustable hopper '71l and oscillating cylindrical vessels h1, in combination with a spout, H, for supplying clay equally Vto the molds, substantially as described.

6. The spout H, provided with the ports las, cylindrical vessels h1, arms h3 and h4, connecting-rods h5 and h?, and adjustable hopper h, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

7. The arm I, jaws i, pivotal pin i1, stud c?, notch e9, wrist-pin @3,pitn1an it, shoulders t5 and is, sliding bolts i7 and i", springs i, keepers j and i12, for operating the mold-disk, substantially as described. y

8. The cam-disk K, oscillating arm J, crosshead jf, slide jf, pitman 4, arm I, sliding bolts i7 and 8,notch e9, keepers 1,1 and i12, and knucklejointed jaw and stud ft2, for imparting an 1ntermittent rotary motion to the mold-disk and preventing momentum shock, substantially as described.

9. The arm l, knuckle-jointed jaw and stud i2, and connectingpitman 114, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

10. -The combination of the oscillating arm J, connecting-pitman h5, arms h3 and h4, and connecting-rod LT, for oscillating the cylinders h1, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

11. The plunger L, formed by the crosshead casting l, top guide-bar Z1, housing-links Z2, and bearings Z4 and Z5, in combination with the cam O and die-matrices G3, substantially as described and shownyandrforwthcmpurposeswww set forth.

12. The within-described plunger-and-die movement of iirst compacting the clay-powder within the molds, then receding to open the tamping n to allow the compressed air within the molds to escape, and again renewing the pressure, compacting the clay in solid form, substantially as described.

13. The die-matrices G2 and G3, provided with wedge-shaped projections, in combination with the die-boxes G1, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

14. The notched disk t, toggle-arms al n2, cone-stud a5, spring a, and air-duct n, substantially as described, as and for the purposes set forth.

15. The air-ducts a9, in combination with a mechanism, substantially as described, for the 18. The levers P and P', lug p2, stud p3, jaw

p4, arm p5, and opening p6 of the disk-top El, in combination with the plunger L and the clutch-bar, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

19. In a brick-machine, the vertical arln S1, rock-arm S2, sliding boxes s4 and S5, push-out plunger S3, in combination with the cani-disk R, substantially as described and shown, and for the purposes set forth.

20. The bracket U, shafts u2 and ui, crankarm uf, arm V, clasping-jaws c, springs o2, toggle-bar o5, link o7, and lever c, substantially as described, and for the purposes set fort-h.

21. The shaft y2, guidebearing y4, arma ture yg, arm N5, connecting-rod zal, arm Z, and

arin us, in combination with thegrooved disk h Y, for operating the off-bearing mechanism, substantially as described and shown.

J. (l. ANDERSON.

Vitnesses:

EDW. COULTER, F. A. BARNES.

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